The efficacy and function of shallot [picture]

Shallots [picture] are a famous traditional Chinese medicinal material with a long history of application. Today we will learn about shallots [picture].

[Other names] Frozen onion (Tang Materia Medica), gourd onion (Sun Zhenren Food Taboos), winter onion (Shu Materia Medica), Huihui onion (Yinshi Zhengyao), garlic onion (Compendium of Materia Medica), divided onion, family onion (Chinese Vegetable Cultivation).

[Source] It is the bulb of the shallot, a plant of the Liliaceae family. Harvest from March to May.

[Original form] Perennial herb. The bulb is slender, spindle-shaped or round, and covered with reddish brown or copper-red bulb bark. The leaves grow in winter and wither in summer. The leaves are cylindrical and slender, up to more than 30 cm long, with a pointed tip, green and soft. The flower stem is hollow, the umbel is terminal, the bracts are membranous; there are 6 perianths; 6 stamens; the ovary is superior and rarely bears fruit. Capsule. Seeds black. Flowering period is from March to April.

[Habitat distribution] Cultivated in central and southern my country.

[Chemical composition] The outer membranous scales of the bulb contain quercetin, spiraea glycoside, quercetin-3,4'-diglucoside and quercetin-7,4'-diglucoside, with a total content of 20%. The flavonoid content decreases towards the center of the bulb (about 1% in the center). The roots do not contain flavonoids. When fresh, it contains spiraea glycoside and quercetin-3,4′-diglucoside, with a total content of about 1%.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy, warm.

【Function and indication】Warming the middle, descending Qi. Treat edema, fullness, and swelling.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 0.5-1 liang for fresh ones. For external use: mash and apply.

【Note】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica for Food Therapy": "Long-term consumption will cause forgetfulness and chronic diseases. People with odorous beard and tooth decay should not eat it, as it will make the condition worse. It will also damage the blood vessels and qi, and eating too much will damage the spirit. This is a fumigation."

[Additional prescription] Treats sudden swelling of the body and face, abdominal distension, difficulty urinating, and slightly rapid breathing: one liter of red beans, ten stalks of shallot (finely chopped), and one ounce of Xiaoshi. Use five liters of water and cook with onions until the beans are cooked. Wait until the water dries up, then add molten stone into a sand basin and grind into a paste. Take half a spoonful of this medicine on an empty stomach every day with warm wine. (Sheng Hui Fang)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

Through the introduction of the above content, we can understand that shallot [picture] plays a very important role in treating some diseases. The consumption of the Chinese medicinal herb shallot [picture] should also be determined according to one's own physical condition. Remember not to take the medicine blindly.